Pastor Ron Zimmer

Birthday: May 4th.
Where I Grew Up: College Station, Texas.
Education: Northwest Nazarene University.
Favorite Books: More than a Carpenter – Josh McDowell; Dangerous Wonder – Mike Yaconelli; anything by John Grisham
Favorite Bands: Lesser Side Sequel
Favorite Foods: Sauerkraut. Yummy.
I Don’t Like: Whiners. Bad Coffee.
Hobbies: Anything my kids will do with me.
Favorite Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:1
Favorite Quote: “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!”
Biblical Role Model: Micaiah

My Testimony: “I grew up in a loving, Christian home just south of the Bible Belt in a college town. I was 13 years old when I came to an understanding that I needed a relationship with Jesus of my own. So, at a Jr. High camp in New Mexico I made Jesus boss of my life.
A year later, I heard God’s call on my life. It wasn’t so much an audible voice as much as a deep movement of my soul – but very real none-the-less. I thought my calling would take me to Africa as a missionary, hacking my way though dense jungles to help some indigenous tribe understand Jesus through the eyes of their own culture.

Well, God had something else in mind. After a degree from a small, private university, I spent a decade as a youth worker – mostly in a bedroom community of Seattle. It didn’t take me long to realize that my heart for introducing new cultures to Jesus was something that desperately needed to be done stateside.

I moved to Chico, CA in 2002 to be the lead pastor of this church. I have come to understand that Chico is a whacky place with many different cultures and ideas about life. As I meet people here, as well as around the world, I do no seek to change people’s culture, political affiliation, favorite radio station or brand of coffee. I do, though, strive to live my life in such a way as to give people the opportunity to meet Jesus within the context of their own culture.

The fact is that Jesus came to earth 2000 years ago to meet people where they were at. He did not come to change the culture, but to bring purpose and wholeness to individuals who chose to start a relationship with Him. And I want to be a part of that conversation in Chico.”

Kimie Fail

Birthday: June 8th
Where I Grew Up: San Diego, California & Kent, Washington
Education: BA in Sillynessics and my Doctorate in Smartypantsology from the School of Hard Knocks
Favorite Books: Anything by Dallas Willard or Richard Foster, and most science fiction, and not-skanky romance. I guess I’m not too picky, I just like reading.
Favorite Bands: I like all sorts of music. My favorites tend to lean toward almost any classic rock or jazz/funk. The best live band I’ve ever seen is Mutemath. Oh, man.
Favorite Foods: A Starbucks toffee nut cream frappuccino blended cream will make me your best friend. I’m not joking.
I Don’t Like: Chocolate and people who are fake.
Hobbies: Music, snowboarding, reading, sudoku, enjoying life, being ridiculously ridiculous.

Favorite Scripture: 1 Cor. 1:26-30
Favorite Quote: “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”
Biblical Role Model: Ruth

My Testimony:
I’ve been in church since day one. I started getting deeply involved in the church when I was in Jr. High, but never truly gave my life to Jesus. Always putting up a front of Christianity – faking it – was easy for me, since I grew up in a Christian home. In early high school, I completely gave my life over to the Lord and realized that He was pulling me into ministry. I was in Ron’s youth group at the time, and loved to sing, but hated the thought of getting on stage. I knew that God was calling me to music leadership, and so as much as I hated it, I would volunteer my time in any music area available. Different doors opened in different church positions, and God gave me opportunities to develop my musical skills as well as my sensitivity to His Spirit and His calling. The adventure up to this point has led me to Chico, and I can’t wait to see what God will be throwing my way!

Pastor Burley Phillips

Birthday:July 16th.
Where I Grew Up: Scobey, Montana.
Education: Point Loma Nazarene University.
Favorite Books: Most Biographies
Favorite Bands: Anything Kevin Looker likes
Favorite Foods: Everything except onions and tomatoes
I Don’t Like: Shopping
Hobbies: All Sports
Favorite Scripture: Romans 8:1 “For there is now no condemnation Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Favorite Quote: “Never, Never, Never, Ever Give Up”
Biblical Role Model: John the Baptist

My Testimony: Ask me and I will be glad to share it…